how to administer sublingual and buccal medication
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Sublingual and buccal medications are administered by placing
them in the mouth, either under the tongue or between
the gum and the cheek. The medications dissolve rapidly
and are absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, where
they enter into the bloodstream.Procedure:
- Perform hand hygiene
- Organize equipment
- Verify client
- Prepare medication adhering 10 rights of drug administration
- Put on gloves
- Have the patient open his or her mouth and raise the tongue
- The tablet should then be placed under the tongue
- tablet should be placed between the gum and the wall of the cheek
Precautions
Sublingual medications should not be administered if the gums or mucous membranes have open sores or areas of irritation. Rather, the physician should be notified, and medication held. The patient should be placed in a sitting position to prevent accidental aspiration of the medication. Buccal or sublingual medication should not be used when a patient is uncooperative or unconscious. The patient should not eat, drink, chew, or swallow until the medication has been absorbed; swallowing the medication must be prevented, as it will decrease the drug's effectiveness. The patient should not smoke while taking sublingual or buccal medication
